Tagged: economic development

Leaders in the City of Camdenton said they are optimistic about the potential for its airport. The conclusion to a three-part expansion plan includes the lengthening of its runway from four to five thousand feet. With this change, the airport will be able to accommodate more air traffic and larger planes.

City officials said this increase in traffic will lead to economic growth and job creation for the lake community.

The Jefferson City Council agreed to provide the Columbia Regional Airport with $100,000 to help attract more airline services.

City Councilman Ralph Bray says Columbia has approached a number of cities in mid-Missouri for help in its attempt to bring a third airline to the airport.

“Well, it’s very, very exciting," Bray says. "Columbia has done a lot of work for the past couple of years or so, I believe, in studying the issue of providing greater air transportation and that would allow for international connections.”

A new report says Missouri's unemployment rate edged higher last month while the number of nonfarm jobs declined.

The Department of Economic Development says the jobless rate rose one-tenth of a point in July to 7.2 percent. That compares with a national rate of 8.3 percent.

The Missouri agency also reported Tuesday that nonfarm payroll employment decreased in July by 7,700 jobs.

Officials said record heat and severe drought affected outdoor jobs in such areas as construction, landscaping, lawn care and recreation.

Missouri officials say state payrolls declined by 4,000 jobs in June while unemployment simultaneously decreased to 7.1 percent.

Department of Economic Development officials say much of the decline in Missouri non-farm payrolls came in the local government sector, which shed 3,100 jobs in June.

The state unemployment rate has declined or held steady each month since June 2011. The jobless rate last month is the lowest in Missouri since December 2008.